The Vicksburg Post prints obituaries for residents, former residents and residents’ immediate family members who resided elsewhere when notified by a family member or a funeral home. There is no charge for printing an obituary, but all are edited to meet the newspaper’s requirements.

THOMAS COFFIE JR.

Thomas Coffie Jr. died Monday, Dec. 16, 2002, at Summit Hospital of North Louisiana in West Monroe, La. He was 82.

A resident of Vicksburg, Mr. Coffie was a Navy veteran serving during World War II on the USS Franklin. He retired from Waterways Experiment Station after 26 years of service and was a deacon of Mount Zion Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Annie Beatrice Allison-Coffie and Thomas Coffie Sr.; two brothers, L.A. Coffie and Nathaniel Coffie; and a sister, Katherine Vanderson.

Survivors include his wife, Chestine Coffie; five sons, John Burnell Coffie of Fayetteville, S.C., Sonny Nicholson of Austin, Texas, Tommy Coffie of Jackson, and Jake Coffie and Bobby Coffie, both of Vicksburg; four daughters, Isabella Robinson of Stafford, Va., Betty Hardy and Kathy Coffie Tyler, both of Vicksburg and Ann Archie of Los Angeles; three brothers Percy “Hot” Jackson of Birmingham, Ala., Kenneth Coffie and Larry Coffie, both of Fayette; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

WILLIE BELL ELLIS.

Willie Bell Ellis died Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002, at River Region Medical Center. She was 102.

Ms. Ellis lived in Vicksburg. She was a homemaker, a member of Mount Olive M.B. Church and the Brothers and Sisters of Zion.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Janie Price Johnson.

Survivors include three sons, James Ellis of Chicago, Willie Cook of Orlando, Fla., and Norman Jones of Vicksburg; seven daughters, Josephine Tolliver and Evelyn Grey, both of Cleveland, Ohio, Barbara Jones and Janie Mae Williams, both of Vicksburg, and Stella Cason, Juanita Boyd and Mary Ellis, all of Baltimore; 48 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; 78 great-great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Zion Travelers M.B. Church with the Rev. Robert L. Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 until 7 tonight at W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home.

CLYDE R. HERN.

YAZOO CITY Clyde R. “Tater” Hern died Monday, Dec. 16, 2002, at University Medical Center in Jackson. He was 87.

A resident of Yazoo City, Mr. Hern was born in Holly Bluff to Roman Hern and Ettie L. Rather. He was a retired equipment operator for Farmer & Co., and of the Baptist faith. He was an Army veteran.

Survivors include his wife, Irene Hern of Yazoo City; a son, Darrell G. Hern of Holly Bluff; two daughters, Sandra Lynn Newton of Jackson and Belinda Tenhet of Rolling Fork; a brother, Harbert Hern of Texas; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services were at noon today at Stricklin-King Funeral Home with the Rev. Andy May officiating. Burial followed at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Yazoo County.

Pallbearers were William Ertle Jr., Garland Yates, Johnny Marlow, Clyde Yates, Douglas Moore and David Moore.